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Pittsfield Issues Local Emergency Declaration In Response To COVID-19 Outbreak

A woman in a blue dress stands behind a podium in front of a row of people and a trio of local, state, and federal flags
Josh Landes
/
WAMC
Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer addressed the press and public Thursday morning in Pittsfield city hall

The city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts has issued a local state of emergency declaration so it can qualify for state and federal funds related to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

Mayor Linda Tyer made the announcement at city hall Thursday morning. She says the declaration allows Pittsfield to circumvent the bureaucratic process in addition to opening up new resources.

“We will be eligible for reimbursement for any costs associated for managing the COVID-19 situation," said Tyer. "It also frees us up to have access to supplies and materials that might be available.”

Tyer says as of Thursday morning, two city residents are presumptively positive for COVID-19 and are hospitalized. The mayor says seven others are under quarantine awaiting test results. Six city residents have completed a 14-day quarantine process. The city is not closing public buildings at this point, including its schools, senior center, and library.

Josh Landes has been WAMC's Berkshire Bureau Chief since February 2018, following stints at WBGO Newark and WFMU East Orange. A passionate advocate for Western Massachusetts, Landes was raised in Pittsfield and attended Hampshire College in Amherst, receiving his bachelor's in Ethnomusicology and Radio Production. His free time is spent with his cat Harry, experimental electronic music, and exploring the woods.
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